Returned With Horns

○

"Is it over?"

"Yeah."

"Do you know how surprised I was when you suddenly jumped out of the moving car?"

"...Sorry."

I apologized while scratching the back of my neck to Seol-ah, who was speaking with furrowed brows.

It had been quite a while since I experienced being scolded like this. Elucia used to do this often.

Feeling a sense of freshness at the sight of Seol-ah nagging me while in the car, I sat in the passenger seat and looked out the window.

Actually, my going to that place was a decision half-relying on intuition.

At first, I didn't think much of it since he was a stranger, but as we spent time together, I noticed Kang Chaehoon's nervousness. Initially, I thought he might be anxious due to the gate mutation and seeing the dragon egg, but it seemed strange that he remained anxious even after we took down the dragon.

To be honest, just because he was anxious, I had no reason to go back there to save Oh Sungwon, but since I had already saved him, I thought I should at least provide some aftercare, so I hurriedly went back. And what I saw was the scene of him accepting that magi.

"I didn't know there was magi in this world too."

"I guess there was magi in the world you originally came from?"

"It wasn't just present, it was my greatest enemy, the Demon King."

To be honest, I never imagined I'd see that cursed energy on Earth too. I still have a lot to learn about this world.

Thinking that, I quietly looked out the window.

○

After that day, Director Baek Cheol-un gave me a vacation. Thanks to Baek Cheol-un, who proudly filled out the vacation paperwork, saying it was protocol to give mandatory vacation to anyone caught in a gate mutation, I was able to roll around in the on-call room.

Of course, I didn't go out. There was nothing to do outside, and my appearance itself wasn't suitable for wandering around outside. A horned woman with her upper chest exposed, carrying a sword in the middle of a Korean street would instantly become an SNS star.

Damn cursed item.

Of course, I could cover my upper chest with a jacket, but the biggest problem was that I couldn't separate from the sword that couldn't even be put in a scabbard. Although it had become quite common to see people carrying swords on the streets after the emergence of hunters, dragging around a sword without even putting it in a scabbard was another issue.

That's why my hikikomori life was a hikikomori life with a reason. On the third day of my vacation, I explained this to Seol-ah, who was worried about me not leaving the on-call room.

"...Isn't it just because you have no one to call you out?"

"Ugh."

No, but.

How could I, who just returned to Earth, have any connections to call me out?

Oh Sungwon, who's currently all over the news, is about the only person I have a connection with.

Speaking of which, it's quite noisy these days. The small TV in the on-call room was bustling with news about Oh Sungwon and Oh Sung Group every day.

It was because people returning from gate mutations were rare in the first place, and among those rare individuals was the fifth son of Oh Sung Group, one of Korea's leading conglomerates. Moreover, Oh Sungwon had not spoken about me at all, which made it even more so. The fact that someone as high-ranking as the fifth son of a chaebol group had an unnamed, or rather, unmentioned helper was enough to pique people's curiosity.

As it was, with the stagnant progress in conquering the largest dungeon-type gate, 'The Tower', recently, such news could be a good source for journalists. Thanks to that, the past few days had been bustling with news about him.

As I was blankly watching the news, Seol-ah quietly held my hand. Feeling the sudden warmth, I looked at her, and she quietly smiled and said:

"Are you really not going out?"

"No, I told you I have no one to call me out? If I go out alone, I'll look suspicious, like I said earlier."

"There's me, and Deputy Chief Han Ayoung, and Director Baek, right?"

"You're all busy."

"That's true. But today, we have some free time."

Seol-ah said with a bright smile. Perhaps because she had such an accommodating body, her personality seemed accommodating too.

Eventually losing to that smile, I got up. It was the moment of parting with the bed I had been glued to for three days.

○

The Hunter Association is in the heart of Gangnam, Seoul. Judging by the location and the level of the building, it seemed the association was quite wealthy. Well, I guess that's why they can just hire someone like me. A woman who looks suspicious to anyone.

"Most returnees look suspicious. I'm the same, aren't I?"

"No, Seol-ah just looks like a blind woman..."

Seol-ah, who had left her sword behind and was dressed roughly, looked like an ordinary Seoul person to anyone. Of course, it was true that she looked blind because her eyes were closed, but aside from that, she didn't look as strange as I did.

Unlike me, who was wearing the usual leather jacket and kimono-like clothes, with a long sword dangling at my waist. Can I really go out like this?

"Won't they just think it's cosplay?"

"It's not even Halloween though?"

"Hmm..."

Realizing that her suggestion was a bit of a stretch, Seol-ah's mouth clamped shut.

Anyway.

Letting out a sigh, I looked at the people around me, feeling their constant gazes. But as soon as my gaze met theirs, people turned away. Why do they keep staring like this?

"Let's go for now."

"Where should we go first?"

"Somewhere we can deal with the dragon byproducts from last time."

"Hmm... For that, the Craft House would be suitable."

"The Craft House?"

"Yes. It's a family of craftsmen. It's also the largest craftsmen community in Korea. Although it's called the Craft House (Gongga), there aren't many people, and most are craftsmen." (tl'n: Wordplay - from Korean it's 'Gongga' or 'Gong family', but from Chinese it translates literally as 'Craftsman family'. From now on I will use just 'Craft House' to indicate that this is primarily a guild-type organization/community as it was said, and not a family in the usual sense of the word.)

Ah. Is it like a blacksmith guild? As I nodded, Seol-ah started walking in the lead.

But is this really a walkable distance? I was starting to get annoyed by the constant stares I was receiving.

"Is it a walkable distance?"

"Huh? Ah, yes. Of course. The largest branch of the Craft House is about a 10-minute walk from here."

"There are branches too?"

"Of course."

Following Seol-ah, who said that, we walked for about 10 minutes as she said, and a large sign reading Craft House (工家) came into view. The Chinese characters written in a single stroke were quite impressive.

As we opened the door and entered, it was bustling with people who looked like hunters.

"Welcome."

As Seol-ah and I approached the counter, someone who looked like an employee glanced at us and casually greeted us.

Hmm, as expected of craftsmen, they should have this level of gruffness. Thinking that, I nodded and opened my mouth.

"I'd like to speak somewhere private."

"...Well, alright. Hae-in!"

"Yes, yes! Master."

The door inside the counter opened, and the person called Hae-in popped out. Her brown skin was glistening with sweat over her drenched clothes. What a healthy-looking beauty.

"Take these guests inside. They have something to say."

"Ah, yes. This way, please, guests."

As we entered through the side door of the counter, we were greeted by stuffy air. Hae-in led us through a side path that looked like a workshop and into an office, where she offered us seats.

"Please sit down first. What brings you here?"

"I want to sell dragon byproducts."

"...What kind of byproducts?"

"Dragon byproducts."

"...Uh, just a moment."

Hae-in, who was blinking with a blank face, hurriedly went outside. Watching her retreating figure, I crossed my legs slightly. Seol-ah was silent, not saying anything, whatever she was thinking.

After a short boring time like that, the office door suddenly burst open.

Startled by the suddenly opened door, I looked that way to see an old man who looked stern standing next to Hae-in.

"Sorry for the delay! Guests. I was bringing the workshop master."

"You came to sell dragon byproducts?"

"Yeah."

At my blunt response, the brow of the old man called the workshop master furrowed slightly. Beside him, Hae-in was also looking at me with a surprised face.

"...The young lady is quite short with her words."

"Despite how I look, I've eaten my fair share of years. I don't show respect unless it's someone I deem worthy of respect."

"Well, that's not what's important here."

As if it really didn't matter, the workshop master soon sat down in front of me. Then, with gleaming eyes, he opened his mouth.

"Let's see the items first."

"Hmm, I wonder if I can take everything out here."

Recalling the dragon byproducts, I tapped my earring, and the dragon byproducts started popping out of thin air and piling up neatly.

From scales to leather, and even dragon hearts and teeth. I had only taken out about half, but the office space was already getting full.

"It might be better to take out the rest in the workshop. Hae-in, guide the guests."

"Yes, Master."

"Ah, then I'll take everything out in the workshop."

"That would be appreciated."

After putting back the items I had taken out by tapping my earring again, I followed Hae-in to the workshop. Then I started pouring out the byproducts again.

Hae-in and the workshop master began examining the pouring byproducts.

"They're all in good condition. However..."

"However?"

"I'll have to calculate, but with this quantity of byproducts, we can't pay in cash right away."

"Hmm."

Seeing the workshop master speak with a troubled expression, I suddenly turned my gaze to my sword. The sword that was dangling, unable to fit into a scabbard.

"Hmm, then how about this. If you make a scabbard that can fit this sword, I'll waive the difference."

"A scabbard? Hmm... It's a Japanese sword. It won't be easy."

To think he could tell just by looking at the sword. He really seems worthy of the workshop master title. Thinking that, I showed him the sword.

"Is it not possible?"

"It's not impossible. That sword, can you leave it here?"

"...That won't work. It's a cursed sword, so if it separates from me, it goes berserk."

At my answer, the workshop master's brow furrowed slightly.

"Then, how about visiting the workshop for a few days?"

"That's possible."

"Then let's do that. I'll give it a try."

"Alright. Ah, and give me whatever money you have available."

"Of course. Craft House is clear about money matters."

Having received nearly 300 million won for the dragon byproducts, I left Craft House with a big smile on my face due to the suddenly increased balance. Seeing me like that, Seol-ah smiled brightly and opened her mouth.

"Are you that happy?"

"Yeah... No, why were you keeping your mouth shut inside Craft House?"

"There was someone I know."

"Someone you know?"

"There's such a person."

Seol-ah, who smiled lightly as if she didn't want to say more, started walking ahead.

Although I was curious, I wasn't curious enough to pry into someone else's wounds, so I just followed her silently.